Refrigerator



Feb. 9, 1943. w RQNDELL 2,310,872

REFRIGERATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. w. RUNDELL 1 2,310,872

Feb. 9, 1943 REFRIQERA'IOR l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1941 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR Theodore W. Rundell, Abington, Pa., assignor to Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 6, 1941, Serial No. 418,082

8 Claims. (Cl. 6289) Philco Corporation,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in domestic refrigerators and more particularly to domestic refrigerators of the type provided with two food storage compartments which are adapted to be cooled and respectively maintained at different conditions of temperature and humidity.

Domestic refrigerators of the type here involved are generally provided with a unitary liner, the interior of which is divided into upper and lower food storage compartments by means of a horizontal partition or shelf. One of these two food storage compartments is usually cooled by an evaporator which is maintained at a temperature below 32 F. for freezing purposes, while the other compartment is cooled by means maintained at a temperature above 32 F. to provide a high humidity zone so that foodstuiis therein, such as fresh fruits, vegetables and the-like, will not become dehydrated but will retain substantially their normal moisture content and hence remain relatively fresh and crisp.

The partition'or shelf which divides the liner into the upper and lower food storage compartments is substantially imperforate so as normally to prevent the circulation of air between the two compartments. It frequently occurs, however, that moisture content of the air in the higher temperature food storage compartment becomes excessive, and in such cases it is desirable that some limited air circulation between the two compartments be permitted so that dry air from within the colder compartment will absorb some oi the excess moisture in the warmer compartment and thereby prevent the foodstufis in the latter from becoming soft and soggy. n the other hand, on occasions where the moisture content in the warmer compartment is not excessive, or is insufficient, then it is desirable that communication or circulation between the two compartments be substantially prevented.

According y, and with the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide in a domestic refrigerator of the type set forth, a food compartment partition member which is constructed and arranged to provide a vent for the limited circulation of air between the two food storage compartments when desired and which embodies also a closure member operable to close the vent and thereby prevent the circulatlon of air between said two compartments.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a food compartment partition and vent closure structure of the stated character wherein the vent closure member is constructed and arranged to interlock with the partition in both the closed and open position of said closure member whereby the latter may be secured in either closed or open positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a partition and vent closure member construction of the type described wherein the said closure member, when in open vent position, serves as a guard member to prevent articles on the partition from droppingrthrough the vent into the lower food storage compartment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel partition and vent closure member of the stated character which is relatively simple partment 5 by and inexpensive to manufacture yet which is efficient, easy to operate and not cumbersome or space consuming.

These and other objects of the invention and the various featuresand details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and described, and shown in 'the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in perspective of a domestic refrigerator embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing the partition and its vent closure member in closed position; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing said vent closure member in open position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a domestic refrigerator of the mechanical type comprising a cabinet having the usual outer shell I and an inner liner or shell 2 spaced inwardly and insulated from the outer shell I by means of insulation and the usual thermal breakerstripv 3.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the food liner 2 is sub-divided into an upper food storage compartment 4 and a lower food storage commeans of a horizontally disposed substantially imperforate partition member 6 which serves also as a shelf. The front access opening to the food liner 2 is provided with a single hinged door.or closure 1 having about its inner peripheral surface the usual resilient sealing gasket 8 and also a horizontal resilient gasket member 9 that is disposed at the level or height of the horizontal partition or shelf 6 and arranged, when the door is closed, to engage and seal against the front edge of said partition or shelf 6 and thus prevent the passage of air between the food storage compartments 4 and 5 past the forward edge thereof. The construcment may be used to cool the two food storage compartments 4 and 5 and in the refrigerator illustrated in the drawings, the upper compartment 4 is shown as cooled by a suitable evaporator 12, while the lower compartment is cooled by means of a suitable evaporator it which may be a cold shelf as illustrated. In refrigerators of the type here involved the cooling means 12 for the upper food storage compartment 4 preferably is maintained at a temperature below 32 F., and the cooling means 13 for the lower food 15 storage compartment 5 is maintained at a temperature above 32 F.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the partition or shelf 6 is removably mounted horizontally within the inner liner or shell 2 of the refrigerator with its opposite side edges slidably engaging channel members M which are secured to the opposite interior side surfaces of said liner or inner shell 2 by means of screws or the like. These channels it do not extend entirely to the rear wall of the inner liner or shell 2 and the partition or shelf 6 likewise has a depth somewhat less than the depth of said liner 2 so that when said partition or shelf 8 is positioned within the liner 2, the rear edge of the so partition orshelf 6 is spaced a relatively short distance from the rear wall of said liner thereby providing an opening or vent V for the passage and circulation of air between the upper and lower food storage compartments 4 and 5 respectively.

In order that this opening or vent V may be closed or opened as desired, a suitable closure member I5 is provided and, as shown in the drawings, this closure member i5 is provided at its opposite ends with sockets or the like II in which are rotatably received inwardly projecting spindles or the like l1 secured respectively to the inner ends of the channels H at opposite struction the closure member I! is mounted for pivotal movement within the space or vent V between the rear edge of the partition or shelf 6 and the rear'wall of said liner or inner shell 2.

The closure member I! comprises a body portion 18 that extends the full width of the liner or inner shell 2 and has a depth substantially equal to the depth of the vent V provided between the partition rear edge and the liner rear wall when the said partition is inserted into the liner to the extent permitted by the channels it.

The forward edge of the body portion ll of the closure member l5 terminates in an offset projecting parallel flange portion I9. This off set flange portion l9 does not extend entirely to m the opposite ends of the bo y portion it of the member i5 and there is thus provided at each end of the body portion a coplanar forwardly projecting tongue portion 20.. -In addition, this tongue 20 is provided with an endwise project- 5;

ing and offset spaced parallel tab 2| which extends into the path of the adjacent channel I4 and is arranged to engage the underside of said channel H and serves as a position-limiting stop when the closure I5 is in closed position with the body portion i8 thereof horizontally within the liner 2 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The previously mentioned offset projecting flange it at the forward edge of the body portion It of the closure member I! is disposed parallel to and spaced from the plane of the tongue 20 and body portion I8 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the partition or shelf I so that when said closure member I! is in the vent closing position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings the rear edge of said partition or shelf 6 may be received and engaged between said flange portion l9 and the tongue portions 2., as shown, thereby providing a suitable support for the rear edge of the partition or shelf I and serving also to secure the closure 15 in such vent closing position.

In order to move the closure member I to and from open or closed position, it is necessary, of course, that the partition or shelf G he slid forwardly and outwardly of the liner 2 at least a distance sufficient to permit theprojecting portions of the closure l5, such as the tongue 2. to clear the rear edge of said partition or shelf 6, after which the partition or shelf 8 may he moved inwardly of the liner 2 and its rear edge engaged with said closure member 15 For the purpose of securing said closure il in its open position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, there is pressed or stamped out from the body portion l8 of the closure I! one or more lugs or the like 22. These lugs 22 are disposed at right angles to the plane of the body portion i8 and are positioned with respect thereto so as to engage under the rear edge of the partition or shelf 6 when the closure I! is in the open position in the manner shown in Figure 3.

It will be observed that in the open position of the closure member 15 shown in Figure 3 the 35 body portion I8 thereof projects upwardly adof the top surface thereof, and by this construction it will be seen that when the vent V is open to permit of the circulation of air between the upper and lower food storage compartments I and 5 respectively, this upwardly projecting portion of the body portion it of the closure member l5 serves as a guard rail or member sides of the liner or inner shell 2. By this con- 45 to prevent foodstuffs and other articles from being pushed off the rear edge portion of the partition or shelf 6 and falling or dropping down through the vent V into the lower food storage compartment 5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides for domestic refrigerators of the type here involved a partition or shelf construction embodying a novel circulation vent closure member that is operable at will either to open the vent and permit limited cir culation of air between the two food storage compartments. orto close the vent and thereby prevent the circulation of air between the two food compartments. The invention further provides a novel vent closure member that is constructed and arranged to interlock with the partition in both the closed and open position! thereof and which, in the open position, functions also as a guard member to prevent articles on the partition from being pushed therefrom and dropped through the vent into the lower food storage compartment. The invention further provides a construction that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, yet which is highly efficient, easy to operate and not cumbersome or space-consuming.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended that the invention be limited II to said disclosure but that changes and modifiperforate body engagement by the cations may be made :within the scope of the annexed claims. v

I claim: I I

1. In a domestic refrigerator having a food liner sub-divided into upper and lower food storage compartments by a horizontal substantially imperforate slidably mounted partition of less depth than said food liner to provide a vent at the rear of said partition for the circulation of air between said upper and lower compartments,,

2. member for closing the vent pivotally" mounted in the food liner and having a substantially importion arranged when the member is in one said vent and in leave the vent substantially unobstructed, means at the forward edge of said member arranged for rear edge of the partition when the member is in vent closing position thereby to secure said member inclosed position, and means projecting from the body portion of the member arranged to engage under the partition rear edge when said member is in open vent position thereby to secure the member in open position. v I

2. In a domestic refrigerator having a food liner sub-divided into upper and lower food storage compartments by a horizontal substantially imperforate slidably mounted partition of less depth than said food liner to provide a vent at the rear of said partition for the circulation of air between said upper and lower compartments, 8. member for closing the vent pivotally mounted in the food liner and having a substantially imperforate body portion arranged when the member is in one position substantially to close said vent and in another position thereof to leave the vent substantially unobstructed, means at the forward edge of said member arranged for engagement by the rear edge of the partition when the member is in vent closing position thereby to secure said member in closed position, and means projecting from the body portion of the member arranged to engage under the partition rear edge when said member is in open vent position thereby to secure the member in open position, the construction and arrangement of said member being such that when in closed position its body portion is horizontally disposed in the plane of the partition and when in open position said body portion is disposed the partition rear edge and latter to providea guard for preventing articles on said partition from being pushed off the rear edge thereof and falling through the vent into the lower food storage (compartment.

3. In a domestic refrigerator having a food liner subdivided into upper and lower food storage compartments by a horizontal substantially imperforate slidably mounted partition of less depth than said food liner to provide a vent at the rear'of said partition for the circulation of air between said upper and lower compartments, a member for closing the vent pivotally mounted in the food liner and having a substantially impcrforate body portion arranged when the member is in one position substantially to close said vent and in another position thereof to leave the vent substantialh unobstructed, relatively spaced tongue and ofiset flange portions at the forward edge of said member between which the partition rear edge is received and engaged when the member is in vent closing position thereby to secure said member in closed position, and at least one lug projecting from thebody portion position substantially to close another position thereof to latter to ,of the member arranged to engage under the partition rear edge when said member is in open vent position thereby to secure the member in open position.

4. In a domestic refrigerator having a food liner subdivided into upper and lower food storage compartments by a horizontal substantially imperforate slidably mounted partition of less depth than said food liner to provide a vent at the rear of said partition for the circulation of air between said-upper and lower compartments, a member for closing the vent pi otally mounted in the food liner and having a substantially imperforate body portion arranged when the member is in one position substantially to close said vent and in another position thereof to leave the vent substantially unobstructed, relatively spaced tongue and offsetfiange portions at the forward edge of said member between which the partition'rear edge is received and engaged when the member is in vent closing position therebyto secure said member in closed position, and at least one lug projecting from the member arranged to engage under the partition rear edge when said member is in open vent posiplane of-the partition and when in open position portion is disposed vertically adjacent the partition rear edge and extends above the provide a guard for preventing articles on said partition from being pushed off the-rear edge thereof and falling through the vent into the lower food storage compartment. I

'5. In a domestic refrigerator having a food er subdivided-into upper and lower food storage compartments by a horizontal substantially imperforate partition of less depth than said food liner to provide a vent at the rear of said partition' for the circulation of air between said upper and lower compartments and means for slidably supporting said partition in the food liner, a member for closing the vent pivotally mounted in the food liner andhaving a substantially imperforate body portion arranged when the member is in one position substantially to close said vent and in another position thereof to leave the vent substantially unobstructed, means at the forward edge of said member arranged for engagement by the rear edge-of the partition when the member 18 m vent closing position thereby to secure said member in closed position, means projecting from the body portion of the member arranged to on gage under the partition rear edge when said member is in open vent position thereby to secure the member in open position, and other means projecting from said member arranged to engage the partition supporting means when the member is in closed position and thereby provide a tion limiting stop for the closed position of said member.

body portion of the supporting said partition member for closing the vent to close said vent and in another position thereof to leave the vent substantially unobstructed, means atthe forward edge of said member arranged for engagement by the rear edge of the partition when the member is invent closing position thereby \to secure said member in closed position, means pro;lecting from the body portion of the member arranged to engage under the partition rear edge when said member is in open vent position thereby to secure the member in open position, and other means projecting from said member arranged to engagethe partition supporting means when the member is in closed position and thereby provide a position limiting stop for the closed position of said member, the construction and arrangement of said member being such that when in closed position its body portion is horizontally disposed in the plane of the partition and when in open position said body portion is disposed vertically adjacent the partition rear edge and extends above the latter to provide a guard for preventing articles on said partition from being pushed off .the rear edge thereof and falling through the vent into the lower food storage compartment.

,7. In a domestic refrigerator having a food liner subdivided into upper and lower food storage compartments by a horizontal substantially imperforate partition of less depth than said food liner to provide a vent at the rear of said partition for the circulation of air between said upper and lower compartments and means for slidably in the food liner, 9. pivotally mounted in the food liner and having-a substantially imperforate body portion arranged when the member is in one position substantially to close said vent and in another position thereof to leave the vent substantially unobstructed, tongue and ofiset flange portions at the forward edge of said member between which the partition rear edge is received and engaged when the member is in vent closing position thereby to secure said member in closed position, at least one lug projecting from the body portion of the member arranged to engage under the partition rear edge relatively spaced ing articles on said when said member is in open vent position there- 1 by to secure the member. in open and other means projecting from said member arranged to engage the partition supporting means when the member is in closed position and there by provide a position limiting stop for the cloud position of said member.

8. In a domestic refrigerator having a food liner subdivided into upper and lower food storage compartments by a horizontal substantially imperforate partition of less depth than said food liner to provide a vent at the rear of said partition for the circulation of air between said upper and lower compartments and means for slidably supporting said partition in the food liner, a member for closing the vent pivotally mounted in the food liner and having a substantially imperforate body portion arranged when the member is in one position substantially to close said vent and in another position thereof to leave the vent substantially unobstructed, relatively spaced tongue and offset flange portions at the-forward edge of said member between which the partition rear edge is received and engaged when the member is in vent closing position thereby to secure said member in closed position, at least one lug projecting from the body portion of the member arranged to engage under the partition rear edge when said member is in open vent position thereby to secure themember in open position, and other means projecting from said member. arranged to engage the partition supporting means when the member is in closed position and thereby provide a position limiting stop for the closed position of said member, the construction and arangement of said member being such that when in closed position its body portion is horizontally disposed in the plane of the'partition and when in open position said body is disposed vertically adjacent the partition rear edge and extends above the latter to provide a guard for preventpartition from being pushed of! the rear edge thereof and falling through the vent into the lower food storage compartment.

. THEODORE W. RUNDEIL 

